Which of the following is an external factor affecting achievement?

• A. Parental attitudes and expectations
• B. School organisation
• C. Peer groups
• D. Subject choice.

Answer: (A)

External factors are influences that come from outside the individual and shape what they achieve. Parental attitudes and expectations are a clear example because they come from the family context, not from the student’s own abilities or from the school system itself. When parents expect high achievement and show support for education, students often internalize those expectations, increase their effort, persevere through challenges, and tend to perform better. This is linked to ideas like the Pygmalion effect, where expectations guide motivation and behavior, helping to explain why achievement can be raised or limited by what parents believe and encourage.

The other options relate to influences tied to the school or social environment, rather than the family’s attitudes. While school organisation, peer groups, and subject choices can affect outcomes, the most direct external factor highlighted here is the impact of parental expectations on a student’s motivation and work ethic.